News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | February 12, 2026
Local News
Fifteen month sentence imposed on Sandston man who made threats in New Kent
A Sandston man who continued to violate the terms of a protective order will spend 15 months in jail. Robert Steven Maxey, 63, of the 3200 block of Portugee Road, entered guilty pleas to two counts of violating a protective order (third time within 20 years) and two counts of making a threat in writing as part of a plea agreement reached Monday afternoon in New Kent Circuit Court. Two additional charges of violating a protective order and two additional charges of making a threat in writing were dropped as part of a deal. In a summary of evidence provided…
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Richmond man receives three months in jail for driving under the influence in New Kent
A Richmond man will spend three months in jail for driving under the influence for the third time. Charlie Mitchell, 50, of the 2200 block of Mandalay Drive, entered a guilty plea to DUI (third or subsequent offense) as part of a plea agreement reached Monday morning in New Kent Circuit Court. In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick, on July 29, 2025, Virginia State Police initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle that was speeding. When the officer approached, they detected a strong odor of alcohol. The driver, identified as Mitchell, admitted to…
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Charles City man receives three years for strangulation; attempted murder charge dropped
A Charles City man will spend three years in jail after pleading guilty to a strangulation charge. Ernest L. Jones, 43, of the 6200 block of Sign Post Lane, pled guilty as part of a plea deal reached during Friday morning proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court. One charge of attempted second degree murder and misdemeanor assault and battery of a family member were dropped as part of the agreement. In a summary of evidence provided by Charles City Commonwealth’s Attorney Tyler Klink, on Sept. 30, 2025, officers responded to a call for service for a domestic assault near the…
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Proposed five-year $253 million CIP for New Kent includes $152 million for next fiscal year
New Kent Supervisors received a look at a five-year capital improvement plan (CIP) during the Jan. 28 work session. And one thing is for certain; New Kent has big goals and plans to spend lots of money. New Kent County Administrator Rodney Hathaway presented the five-year recommendation of $253,825,548 during the meeting. Of that amount, more than half ($152,790,754) is planned to be used in the next fiscal year. The five-year proposal presented by Hathaway comes as a recommendation from the county’s planning commission. The $253 million in expenditures will cover several areas, with the $152 million planned for next…
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Ten-percent staff raise part of Charles City’s Superintendent of Schools $8.9 million budget proposal
Citing nearby county salaries and Charles City’s proximity squeezed between them, Charles City Superintendent of Schools Katina Otey sent a strong message with her first budget presentation to school board members. Otey proposed a 10-percent staff salary increase as part of an $8,923,281 budget presentation for FY2026-27 during Tuesday night’s Charles City School Board meeting. By comparison, county schools are operating on a budget of $7,201,636 for the current year. “Teachers come to Charles City, and we are thankful for them,” Otey said. “They choose to be here when they can go elsewhere.” The superintendent referenced how nearby counties offer…
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New Kent Board of Supervisors deny transfer request to initiate construction of new elementary school
A request for additional supplemental funding to launch the process of building a new elementary school in New Kent has been denied by county leaders. New Kent supervisors denied a proposal for supplemental funding in the amount of $130,732.99 by a 2-3 vote in front of a packed boardroom during Tuesday night’s regular meeting. Over the past few months, discussions between New Kent’s School Board and New Kent County’s Board of Supervisors circled around the construction of a “new” New Kent Elementary School building. The proposed building would be located behind the current elementary school, with a proposal of three…
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North Carolina man handed three months for assault in New Kent County
A North Carolina man will spend the next three months in jail for assaulting a family member in New Kent. Jeremy William Roscoe, 41, of the 500 block of Old Hertford Highway, Elizabeth City, entered a guilty plea to a single count of assault and battery of a family member (third or subsequent offense) as part of a plea agreement reached during Monday proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Thomas Cleator, on Apr. 28, 2025, a New Kent deputy responded to a call for service to a residence…
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Virginia Beach duo indicted for allegedly possessing methamphetamine in New Kent
A pair of Virginia Beach residents who allegedly possessed an illegal substance in New Kent County have been indicted by a grand jury. Donna Dale Bishop, 51, and Charles Frederick Kirby, 44, both of the 900 block of Argona Boulevard, were each indicted on count of possession of a Schedule I/II substance during Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. The duo allegedly possessed methamphetamine on Sept. 9, 2025. Other indictments certified by the grand jury include: –Anna Catherine Baggett, 31, of the 5400 block of Haupts Lane, Charles City, on two counts of possession of a Schedule I/II…
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Charles City man indicted on attempted second degree murder charge
A Charles City man has been indicted on a pair of felony charges including attempted murder. Ernest Lamont Jones, 43, of the 6200 block of Sign Post Lane, was indicted on one charge each of attempted second degree murder, strangulation, and misdemeanor assault and battery on a family member during Tuesday morning proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court. The allegations stem from a Sept. 30, 2025, incident where Jones was identified as a suspect when he was involved in a domestic incident with a female companion. In one other indictment, Adkins Store, located at 9900 S. Lott Cary Road, Charles…
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Richmond woman to serve two years for illegally possessing firearm in New Kent
A Richmond woman will spend the next two years in jail for illegally possessing a gun in New Kent County. Donesha Shante Bland, 35, of the 3400 block of Walmsley Boulevard, entered a guilty plea to one count of possession of a gun by a nonviolent felon as part of an agreement reached Monday morning in New Kent Circuit Court. One charge of felony failure to appear was dropped as part of the agreement. In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick, on Feb. 28, 2025, a high-speed chase initiated in New Kent and eventually…
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